After the death of her husband, Bella Jordan and her son need a fresh start. But on their way to stay with family in Chicago, they stop in Lily Dale, New York and a storm forces them to spend the night.

Brimming with psychics and mediums, Lily Dale is just the kind of quirky little town Bella’s late husband always talked about settling down in. So when the local hotel’s owner, Leona, passes away, Bella agrees to step in and help temporarily. The longer she and Max stay there, the more Lily Dale starts to feel like home.

But for Bella, finding a home means finding danger, too. Leona was murdered, and it’s up to Bella to track down the killer before her sanctuary comes crashing down in bestseller Wendy Corsi Staub’s warm and witty series debut.

Review: Nine Lives is a captivating paranormal cozy mystery filled with zany characters, unexpected twist and a very sly feline named “Chance the Cat”, that will charm your socks off.

Bella is recently widowed, leaving her to raise her young son, Max, all alone. With no job and little money, Bella sets out to visit her mother-in-law in Chicago. But, it seems fate has other plans as Bella finds herself spending the night in the quaint, but slightly off kilter little town of Lily Dale.

One night at the local hotel ends up becoming a little more when Bella agrees to take a temp job, filling the position of the recently departed owner, Leona. But, Bella soon discovers that Lily Dale is filled with mediums and psychics, something her practical brain is having a hard time processing, until she begins to experience some very odd things herself. Not only that, it would seem foul play could have been the real of Leona’s death. Does this mean Bella could be in danger too?

I have read several books by this acclaimed author and love her style, which normally falls into the romantic suspense or mystery/thriller category. So, I was caught by surprise when I realized this book fell into the cozy mystery category, but believe me, it was a very pleasant surprise.

I love books that feature animals and pets, and so “Chance the Cat” and her role in the story was very appealing to me. The supernatural elements are lighter in tone, not dark or heavy, and the cast of characters are absolutely delightful. The atmosphere is whimsical and I found myself caught up in it as though I had walked through a magical portal myself. While this is a mystery and a whodunit, this story is really sweet and a little poignant at times. The book is well written, is very entertaining, and enjoyable.

I recommend this book to fans of cozy mysteries or perhaps to those looking for a Halloween read that won’t give you nightmares. I hope this series will gain a solid following so that we can visit the magical town of Lily Dale, New York as often as we like.

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